Opening Prayer
First: please start your lesson explaining to the children the meaning of the word extraordinary. Extraordinary is something that goes beyond what is usual, regular, or customary. It is something exceptional to a very marked extent. People, in Jesus’ time, would name miracle/supernatural everything they could not explain. Miracles or supernatural things would go against the laws of God, according to the people at that time.
Jesus did not perform miracles. He cured people, he repelled disturbed spirits, he said predictions, used telepathy (the ostensible transfer of information on thoughts or feelings between individuals by means other than the five senses) and clairvoyance (the ability to gain information about an object, person, location or physical event through means other than the known human senses). He made all these happen by manipulating energy. He did that through his thoughts and will, since He is a Superior spirit and has much more knowledge than all of us.
He performed these extraordinary things to help people (cure) and to make them aware He was on a very special mission; to disseminate love and charity.
Jesus has outstanding talents and capacity. He executed many phenomena because He is a much evolved spirit, with well-developed spiritual capabilities who knows how to use his thought and will in a more evolved way.
Jesus was many times challenged and/or asked to carry out special effects, but was not always pleasing the people who wanted to see it. Everything He did had a reason behind it. He never did extraordinary things just to please people’s curiosity or to show them His power. People needed to deserve and have faith in order to see these extraordinary facts.
Second: tell the children some extraordinary facts from Jesus’ life.
The miraculous draught of fishes – Genesis, chap. XV. The miracles of the Gospel, item 7.
The miraculous draught of fishes
7. - One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesareta, with the people crowding around him and listening to the word of God, he saw at the water’s edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets. He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat.
When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.” Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.” When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. So they signalled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink. (Luke, 5: 1 to 7.)
After you tell the children this fact, please enquire:
- What was this type of phenomenon? Clairvoyance. Jesus could see without his physical eyes; he saw in spirit the place where the shoal of fish was located.
- What was the reason for Jesus to get involved in this fishery? The reason why he got involved was for the disciples to follow Him with more faith; confidence.
The tempest Stilled - Genesis, chap. XV. The miracles of the Gospel, item 45.
45 - One day Jesus said to his disciples, “Let’s go over to the other side of the lake.” So they got into a boat and set out. As they sailed, he fell asleep. A squall came down on the lake, so that the boat was being swamped, and they were in great danger. The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Master, Master, we’re going to drown!” He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters; the storm subsided, and all was calm. “Where is your faith?” he asked his disciples. In fear and amazement they asked one another, “Who is this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him.” (Luke, 8: 22 to 25.)
After you tell the children this fact, please enquire:
- How did Jesus do this? He probably spoke to the spirits who coordinate the nature’s phenomena – Source: The Spirits' Book by Allan Kardec; chap. IX, item 536 to 540.
Jesus’ appearance in spirit after the death of the physical body (Genesis, chap. XV; items 53 to 63).
Jesus’ appearance is mentioned in Mt. 28: 1/10, Mc. 16: 1/18, Lc. 24: 1/12 and Jo 20: 1/10.
The narration of Jesus appearing to Mary Magdalene is described in Jo. 20: 10/18 and Mc. 16: 9/11.
Jesus’ meeting with the disciples in Emmaus is described in Lc. 24: 13/35 and Mc. 16: 12/13.
Jesus’ appearance after Death to the disciples in described in Mc. 16: 4/18, Lc. 24: 36/49 and Jo. 20: 19/23.
The episodes of Jesus’ appearance after Death are well described in an excellent book called Estudos Espíritas do Evangelho (translation: Spiritist Studies of the Gospel), by Terezinha Oliveira, Editor EME (pg. 306 to 319).
After you tell the children one of these facts, please enquire:
- Was that a miracle? No, it wasn’t. Jesus appeared in spirit to prove life continues after the death of the physical body. Please remember there are things we can’t explain, but they are not against the Laws of God which are fair, wise and immutable. The progress of human knowledge has contributed to unveil many of these ‘mysteries’, through research and experimentations.
Third - activity: please use a toy called “My First Lab”, from the Company Brinquedos Algazarra (experience number 10). You can also use the tincture pens which erase after some time; or you could do some other type of magic. If so, please talk to the children afterwards about what happened and explain the trick to them.
There is another suggestion, which is to tell the story Miracles? to the children.
Click here to download Power point that can be used – received from Gisel Haddad - KSSF Kardecian Study Society of Florida.
Final Prayer
Class suggested being suitable for: 2nd cycle (9 to 10 years old) and 3rd cycle (11 to 12 years old); it could also be adapted to other cycles, depending on the classes’ maturity and/or conditions.
Translation: Carolina von Scharten, London, Sir William Crookes Spiritist Society linked to BUSS - The British Union of Spiritist Societies.
